Flexible closure



Nov. 23., 1926. 1,607,603

R. HQ BINNs ET AL FLEXIBLE CLOSURE Filed Feb. 2s, 192s Patented Nov. 23, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.-

RALPH BINNS, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, AND WILLIAM A. DE HART, IF TEANECK, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNORS TO EDWARD H. BINNS AND RALPH H. BINNS, BOTH 0F PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA.

FLEXIBLE CLOSURE.

Application filed February 28, 1925. Serial No. 12,449.

The present invention relates to improvements in pull members and locking devices for cam sliders of the type employed w1th flexible strips or stringers of spaced interlocking fastening devices. The present invention may be considered as an improvement upon the device covered by the application of Ralph H. Binns, filed February 18th, 1925, Serial No. 10,074.

The pull memberof the present application utllizes the leverage control of the operating slider set forth in said .Binns application, but extends the application of th1s principle to a more effective angular control of the slider in both its locking and unlocking movements. This is accomplished by mounting the pull pin approxi` `mately centrally of the slider body and arranging a reversible pull member kin the 20 form of a blade of spring metal capable of movement from a central position beneath -said pull pin to extend either above or below the slider body. The opposite ends of the pull member are so designed that 25 a slight-outward stress upon the outwardly presented end of the pull member in addition to the pull in the desired direction will bring into action a fulcrumheel for controlling the angular position of the slider upon the interlocking fastening devices. This improved flexible closure mai also include a modification of the slider loc in the form of a frictional drag or brake under the control of manually o erated means such as the lpull member. n improved form of stop upon the stringers is alsoprovided for limiting the locking movement of the slider upon the fastening dev1ces.

In order that the invention may be full understood it will first be described wit reference to the accompanying drawings and afterwards more particularly pointed out in the annexed claims.

In said drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a portion of `a flexible closure embodyingthe present invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same;

Fig. 3 is a similar view, partly in section, showin the pull member extended below the sli er;

Fig. 4 is a similar view showing the pull member extended above the slider;

Fig. 5 is a rear view of the slider;

Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. l;

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 6 showing the locking drag or brake raised away from the locking devices; and

Fig. 8 is a detail perspective view of the slider limiting stop.

In the type of flexible closure to which the present invention relates, two flexible strips or stringers 1, 2 are formed at their inner edges with beads or thickened portions 3 upon which are securedinterlocking fastening devices.

Each interlocking fastening device is preferably formed with a U-shaped yoke 10 embracing and compressed upon the beaded or thickened edge 3 of a flexible Stringer, a narrow ncck 12, a forked hook 13, and the opposite riding lugs or shoulders The specific form and operation of the fastening devices of the preferred construction will be more fully understood by reference to the applicationl of Binns, Binns and De Hart, filed July 5th, 1924, Serial No. 724,355.

The operating cam slider is preferably constructed, as set forth in the above named a plication, of a back-plate and a forep ate 21 mounted in spaced relation upon a inder post (not shown), to provide a fastener receiving channel. The inner faces of the back-plate and fore-plate are provided with controlling grooves 25 separated by a central guide rib or surface 26. The riding lugs 15 of the fasteningl devices operate in the controlling grooves 25.

The fore-plate 21 of the slider body is K provided approximately midway between its upper and lower ends with the outwardly presented ears or lugs carrying a transverse pivot and pull pin 35.

At the upper end of at least one series of interlocking members, is provided a stop lug A27 formed on the yoke 28and having its two arms integrally connected with the arms of a yoke 10a through the web portions 29. The yoke 10a is part of a specially formed fastening member having a narrow neck 12, a forked hook 13a and the riding lugs or shoulders 15a. The connections 29 between the yokes 28 and 10a (which are clamped upon the beaded edge of a Stringer) mutually and effectively brace th'e top fastening member and stop lug to lessen the liability of misplacement from rstrains.

It will be understood that in the closing operation of the slider upon the fastening devices, one of the ears 30 will come into engagement with stop lug 27 and limit the movement of the slider. The stop lug 27 is so mounted that it will pass outside of and along one edge of the slider in this closing movement.

The U-shaped drag or brake member is freely pivoted upon the pin 35 and shaped to fit over the lower end of slider fore-plate 21. The portions of the drafr or brake 40, which are presented toward5 the exposed faces of the interlocking fastening devices, are suitably shaped to frictionally engage the fastening devices for securing the slider in the desired position thereon. As shown this member 4() is formed with a central braking surface 41 designed to engage the edges of adjacent int'erlocked fastening devices, and side braking surfaces 41a to engage the locking devices adjacent riding lugs or shoulders 15.

is a blade-like pull member movably mounted upon the slider beneath the pivot and pull pin 35. This pull member 50 is made of spring metal and is formed with a slight arch or bow shape to cause it to effectively though yieldingly engage the pin 35. Pull member 50 has a central transverse bend or recess 51 which snugly engages pin 35 in its central locked posit-ion as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The' opposite ends of pull member 50 l are slightly rolled or coiled to form finger pieces 52 and 53, which also act as fulcrum heels for engaging the face of top plate 21 and giving a leverage control of the angularl position of the slider when it is moved upon the fastening devices.

'Ihe devices are shown in normal locked position in Figs. 1, 2 and 6 of the drawings, 1n which position the pull member 50 is sprung beneath the pin 35 with its upper end frictionally engaging the upper central portion of the fore-plate of the slider and its lower end resting upon the drag or brake 40 and holding it in locked engagement with the interlocked fastening devices. In this position stop lug 27 is in engagement with ear 30 of the slider. The slider is held against movement in either direction. To

open the closure the pull member 5() is shift ed into the position shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings to project below the slider and release the drag or brake 40. In this position by slight outward pressure in the direction of arrow w, combined with a downward pull in the direction of arrow y, the filcrum heel 52 will afford suiicient leverage control of the angular position of the slider to prevent digging in at the downward or leading end, and cause the slider to move fieely upon the fastening devices to move them into unlocked position.

lVhen it is desired to fasten the closure, the pull member 50 is moved into the position shown in Fig. 4 in which outward pressure in the direction indicated by arrow combined with the pull in the direction of ari-ow y causes the slider to move freely over the fastening devices to interlock them without any tendency to bind or catch upon them.

We claim:

1. In a flexible closure or fastener, the combination of flexible strips or stringere having spaced interlocking fastening devices, and a slider embracing and sliding upon said fastening devices for interlocking and unlocking them, with a pull pin mounted transversely upon said slider a proximately mid- Way between the slider en s, and a pull member movably engaging said pin and having means for limiting the angular movement of said pull member thereon.

2. In a flexible closure or fastener, the combination of flexible strips or stringers having spaced interlocking fastening devices, and a slider embracing and sliding upon said fastening devices for interlocking and unlocking them, 'with an angularly movable pull member shiftably mounted upon said slider between the ends of the slider, said pull member having means at bothl ends for limiting the angular movement of the pull member upon the slider.

3. In a flexible closure or fastener, the combination of flexible strips or stringers having spaced interlocking fastening. devices, and a slider embracing and sliding upon said fastening devices for interlocking and unlocking them, a pin mounted upon said slider between the slider ends, with a shiftable pull member movably mounted upon said slider beneath said pin and having at its opposite ends means for engagement with said pin.

4. In a flexible closure or fastener, the combination of flexible strips or stringers having spaced interlocking fastening devlces, and a slider embracing and sliding upon said fastening devices for interlocking and unlocking them, said slider carrying a pull pin spaced from it between its ends, with a blade-like pull member movably mounted upon said slider beneath said pin and having limiting stops .at its opposite ends to engage said pull pin and limit the lengthwise and angular movements of said pull member.

5. In a Hexible closure or fastener` the combination of fiexible strips or stringers having spaced interlocking` fastening devices, and a slider embracing and sliding upon said fastening devices for interlocking and unlocking them, said slider carrying a pull Cil pin spaced from it between its ends, with a blade-like pull member movably mounted upon said slider beneath said pin and having a central groove or recess normally enhaving spaced interlocking fastening devices,

and a slider embracing and sliding upon said fastening devices for interlocking Vand unlocking them, said slider having a pull pin mounted upon it between its ends, with a pull member movably mounted upon said slider beneath said pin, said pull member being in the form of a blade of spring metal having a centralgroove or recess to engage said pull pin and hold said pull member in central position upon the slider, and said pull member `also having at its opposite ends means for enga ement with said pull pin.

7. In a lexi le closure or fastener, the combination of flexible strips or stringers having spaced interlocking fastening devices, and a slider embracing and sliding upon said fastening devices for interlocking and unlocking them, with a drag or brake pivotally mounted upon said'slider and engaging said fasteningdevices, and a manually operateddevicefmovably mounted upon said slider in position to engage and control said drag or brake.

8. In a flexible closure or fastener, the combination of flexible strips or stringers having spaced interlockin fastening vdevices, anda slider embracmg and sliding upon said fastening devices for interlocking and unlocking them, with a pull member' having limited movement upon said slider, and a drag or brake pivotally mounted upon said slider and held in engagement with said fastening devices by said pull member.

9. In a flexible closure or fastener, the combination of flexible stri s or stringers having spaced interlocking fastening devices, and a slider embracing and sliding upon said fastening devices, for interlocking and unlocking them, with a pull pin mounted upon said slider, a pull member shiftably mounted between Said pin and said slider, said pull member being angularly movable upon said pin and having means at both ends for limiting its angular movement upon the slider, and a drag or brake pivotally. mounted upon said pin and normally held by said pull member in engagement with said fastening devices.

10. In a. flexible closure or fastener, the combination of flexible strips or stringers having spaced interlocking fastening devices, and a slider embracing and sliding upon said fastening devices for interlocking and unlocking them, with a U-shaped drag or brake pivotally mounted upon said slider and extending beyond one end thereof and engaging said fastening devices, and a pull member movably mounted upon said slider Iand normally engaging said drag or brake.

11. In a flexible closure or fastener, the combination of flexible strips or stringers having spaced interlocking fastening l devices, and a slider embracing and sliding upon said fastening devices for interlocking and unlocking them, said slider carrying a pull pin spaced from it between its ends, with a blade-like pull member mounted to move longitudinally and angularly upon said slider between the pull pin and the slider, said pull member having means at both ends for limiting the lengthwise and angular movements of the pull member upon the slider, and a locking drag or brake pivotally mounted upon said pull pin and held normally in engagement with said fastening devices by said pull member.

12. In a flexible closure or fastener, the combination of flexible strips or stringers having spaced interlocking fastening devices, and a slider embracing and sliding' upon said fastening devices for interlocking and unlocking them, said slider carrying a pull pin spaced from it between its ends, with a shiftable blade-like pull member movably mounted upon said slider beneath and in engagement with said pull pin, said pull member having a recess between its ends for engagement With said pull pin and means at both ends for limiting the lengthwise and angular movements of the pull member upon the slider, and a locking drag or brake pivotally mounted upon said pull pin and held normally in engagement with said fastening devices by said pull member.

13. In a flexible closure or fastener, the combination of flexible strips or stringers -having spaced interlocking fastening devices, and an operating slider embracing and sliding upon said fastening devices, with a slider stop secured to one of said strips or stringers and rigidly attached to and braced by one of said fastening devices.

14. Ina exible"closure or fastener, the combination of flexible strips or stringers having spaced interlocking fastening devices, and an operating slider embracing and sliding upon said fastening devices, with a U-shaped yoke embracing and clamped upon the e'dge of one of said strips or stringers, a stop lug upon said yoke arranged to engage and arrest said slider, and a web portion extending from said stop lug yoke and connected to one of said fastening devices.

15. In a flexible closure or fastener, the combination of'flexible strips or stringers having spaced interlocking fastening devices, and an operating slider embracing and sliding upon said fastening devices, with a slider stop member spaced from and integrally connected with one of said fastening devices.

16. In a exible closure or fastener, the combination of iiexible strips or stringers having spaced interlocking fastening devices, and an operating slider embracing and sliding upon said fastening devices, 10

a pair of integrally connected yokes embracing and clamped upon the edge of one of said strips orstringers, one of said fas-v tening devices being mounted upon one of said yokes, and aslider stop lug upon the 15 other of said yokes.

RALPH H. BINN S. WILLIAM A. BE HART. 

